2013 CHEVROLET CORVETTE check oil

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 11/8/12
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Lifting the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-19
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-21
Cooling System (Engine) . . . 10-24 Cooling System
(Intercooler) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-29
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-31
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-38
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-39
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Windshield Replacement . . . 10-41
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41 High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-44
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-52
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Sport Cup Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-55

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 11/8/12
Vehicle Care 10-9
A. Clutch Master CylinderReservoir (If Equipped). See
Hydraulic Clutch on page 10‑21.
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid on
page 10‑32.
C. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” underBrakes on
page 10‑32.
D. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant on page 10‑26.
E. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑21.
F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid on
page 10‑31.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” underBrake
Fluid on page 10‑36.
H. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 10‑13. I.
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑45.
J. Passenger Compartment Air Filter (Out of View). See
Passenger Compartment Air
Filter on page 8‑6.
K. Battery on page 10‑37.
If the vehicle has the 6.2L LS3
V8 engine (without the dry sump
engine oil tank) and you are facing
the front of the vehicle.

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 11/8/12
Vehicle Care 10-11
A. Intercooler. SeeCooling System
(Engine) on page 10‑24 or
Cooling System (Intercooler) on
page 10‑25.
B. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑21.
C. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir and Cap. See Power Steering
Fluid on page 10‑31.
D. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant on page 10‑26.
E. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid on
page 10‑32.
F. Clutch Master Cylinder Reservoir (If Equipped). See
Hydraulic Clutch on page 10‑21.
G. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” underBrakes on
page 10‑32.
H. Passenger Compartment Air Filter (Out of View). See
Passenger Compartment Air
Filter on page 8‑6. I. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See
“When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 10‑13.
J. Dry Sump Engine Oil Tank. See “Changing Engine Oil and Filter”
Brake Fluid on page 10‑36.
K. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 10‑13.
L. Remote Positive (+) Terminal (Out of View). See Jump
Starting on page 10‑75.
M. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑45.
If the vehicle has the 6.2L LS9
Supercharged V8 engine and you
are facing the front of the vehicle.

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 11/8/12
Vehicle Care 10-13
A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑21.
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid on
page 10‑31.
C. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑45.
D. Remote Positive (+) Terminal (Out of View). See Jump
Starting on page 10‑75.
E. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 10‑13.
F. Dry Sump Engine Oil Tank. See “Changing Engine Oil and Filter”
under Engine Oil on
page 10‑13.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 10‑13.
H. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant on page 10‑26. I. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid on
page 10‑32.
J. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” underBrake Fluid
on page 10‑36.
K. Clutch Master Cylinder Reservoir. See Hydraulic Clutch
on page 10‑21.
If the vehicle has the 6.2L LS3
V8 engine with the manual
transmission (with the dry sump
engine oil tank) or the 7.0L LS7
V8 engine and you are facing the
driver side of the vehicle.Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.Always use engine oil approved
to the proper specification and of
the proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section.
.Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
.Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System on page 10‑19.
.Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 11/8/12
10-14 Vehicle Care
Checking Engine Oil (Except
Z06, ZR1, manual transmission
Grand Sport Coupe, and 427
Convertible)
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL message
displays on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), check the engine oil
level right away. For more
information, seeEngine Oil
Messages on page 5‑39. Check the
engine oil level regularly; this is an
added reminder.
It is a good idea to check the engine
oil level at each fuel fill. In order to
get an accurate reading, the vehicle
must be on level ground. The
engine oil dipstick handle is a loop.
See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑8 for the location of the
engine oil dipstick. Obtaining an accurate oil level
reading is essential:
1. If the engine has been running
recently, turn off the engine and
allow several minutes for the oil
to drain back into the oil pan.
Checking the oil level too soon
after engine shutoff will not
provide an accurate oil level
reading.
{WARNING
The engine oil dipstick handle
may be hot; it could burn you.
Use a towel or glove to touch the
dipstick handle.
2. Pull the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or cloth, then push
it back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down, and
check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
(Except Z06, ZR1, manual
transmission Grand Sport
Coupe, and 427 Convertible)
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick, add
1 L (1 qt) of the recommended oil
and then recheck the level. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil” in
this section for an explanation of
what kind of oil to use. For engine
oil crankcase capacity, see
Capacities and Specifications on
page 12‑2.
See Racing or Other Competitive
Driving on page 9‑6 for additional
information on engine oil.

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 11/8/12
Vehicle Care 10-15
Notice:Do not add too much oil.
Oil levels above or below the
acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful
to the engine. If you find that you
have an oil level above the
operating range, i.e., the engine
has so much oil that the oil level
gets above the cross-hatched
area that shows the proper
operating range, the engine could
be damaged. You should drain
out the excess oil or limit driving
of the vehicle and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess amount of oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑8 for the location of the
engine oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range . Push the dipstick all the way
back in when through.Checking Engine Oil (Z06, ZR1,
manual transmission Grand
Sport Coupe, and 427
Convertible)
A. Engine Oil Dipstick
B. Engine Oil Fill Cap
It is a good idea to check the engine
oil level at each fuel fill. In order to
get an accurate reading, the vehicle
must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a
loop. The dipstick is located on the
dry sump engine oil tank. See
Engine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑8 for the location of the
dry sump engine oil tank.
These vehicles have a
racetrack-ready dry sump engine
lubrication system. This
high-performance system operates
differently than a standard engine
lubrication system and requires a
special procedure when checking
the engine oil level. Follow this
procedure closely when checking
the engine oil level.
The engine oil level must be
checked when the engine is warm.
Cold oil level in the dry sump tank
may not indicate the actual amount
of oil in the system. With this
system, engine oil is contained in an
external tank, separate from the
engine. Under normal operating
conditions, the oil pan under the
engine does not store any oil. If the
vehicle has been parked for an
extended period without the engine
being started, some oil will seep
back into the oil pan, reducing the
amount of oil held in the dry sump

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 11/8/12
10-16 Vehicle Care
tank and there could be no engine
oil at all showing on the dipstick.
This is normal since the dipstick is
designed to read engine oil level
only after the engine has run long
enough to reach normal operating
temperature. Do not add engine oil
based on cold engine dipstick
readings. The engine oil level on the
dipstick will also be inaccurate if
checked while the engine is running.
1. To obtain an accurate engine oillevel reading, warm up the
engine to at least 80°C (175°F).
Cold oil will not give a correct oil
level reading.
2. Once the engine is warm, turn off the engine. Checking the oil
while the engine is running will
result in an incorrect oil level
reading.
3. Wait at least five minutes (but not more than 20 minutes) to
allow oil to drain and settle in the
engine.{WARNING
The engine oil dipstick handle
may be hot; it could burn you.
Use a towel or glove to touch the
dipstick handle.
4. Remove the dipstick from the external engine oil tank and
clean it with a lint-free paper
towel or a cloth. Re-insert the
dipstick into the external oil tank,
pushing it all the way in until it
stops.
5. Remove the dipstick from the oil tank and read the level on the
cross-hatched area. Oil levels
that fall in the cross-hatched
area are normal.
When to Add Engine Oil (Z06,
ZR1, manual transmission
Grand Sport Coupe, and 427
Convertible)
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick, add
1 L (1 qt) of the recommended oil
through the oil fill cap opening in the
oil tank and then recheck the level.
See “Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
for an explanation of what kind of oil
to use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, see Capacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2.
See Racing or Other Competitive
Driving on page 9‑6 for additional
information on engine oil.

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 11/8/12
10-18 Vehicle Care
2. Once the oil has been drainedfrom the engine, remove the
engine oil filter and allow the oil
to drain.
3. Re-install both drain plugs and tighten them to 25 Y(18 lb ft).
4. Replace the oil filter and tighten it to 30 Y(22 lb ft). See
Maintenance Replacement Parts
on page 11‑14 for the correct
filter.
5. Oil is filled through the opening in the top of the external engine
oil tank. Remove the oil fill cap.
6. Add 9.9 L (10.5 quarts) of oil to the oil tank. See Capacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2.
7. Install the oil fill cap and insert the dipstick, if removed.
8. Start the engine and let it run at idle for at least 15 seconds. This
will circulate the fresh engine oil
through the lubrication system. 9. Shut off the engine and check
the oil level as described under
“Checking Engine Oil (Z06, ZR1,
and Grand Sport).”
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Specification
Use and ask for licensed engine oils
with the dexos1
®approved
certification mark. Engine oils
meeting the requirements for the
vehicle should have the dexos1
approved certification mark. This
certification mark indicates that the
oil has been approved to the dexos1
specification. Corvette recommends
Mobil 1
®engine oils that meet the
requirements of the dexos1
specification for its dry-sump
equipped engines.
Notice: Failure to use the
recommended engine oil or
equivalent can result in engine
damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty. Check with your
dealer or service provider on
whether the oil is approved to the
dexos1 specification.
Viscosity Grade
SAE 5W-30 is the best viscosity
grade for the vehicle. Do not use
other viscosity grade oils such as
SAE 10W-30, 10W-40, or 20W-50.
Cold Temperature Operation: In an
area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below −29°C
(−20°F), an SAE 0W-30 oil may be
used. An oil of this viscosity grade
will provide easier cold starting for
the engine at extremely low
temperatures. When selecting an oil